Attraction Description

Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley lakes at an elevation of 1,754 m above sea level. It lies to the south of Nakuru, in the rift valley of Kenya and is protected by Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake's abundance of algae used to attract a vast quantity of flamingos that famously lined the shore.

Location:

Lake Nakuru is 170 km (105 m) northwest of Nairobi. It’s close enough for a day trip or a longer stay in the area.

Climate:

The park has a higher elevation than most at 1,756 m (5757 ft.) and this has a cooling effect. Even though it’s near the equator, it rarely gets hot. Nor does it get too cold, too wet or too dry. Generally, the climate here is quite comfortable.

However, there are intermittent late afternoon showers, but these tend to be more refreshing than an obstacle.

Best time to visit:

The park is open year-round. In many parks the wet season can put an end to game viewing but that’s not necessarily the case at Lake Nakuru. The roads are good and since the park is fenced, the animals won’t disperse.

Still, the most popular time for viewing is during the dry season from July to December.

Operating Hours:

Lake Nakuru Park operates from 06:00 Hrs. to 18:00 Hrs daily. Note: No entry is allowed on foot and hiking is only allowed in designated areas with a KWS ranger.

Getting there:

By road – you can book a tour with Samson Tours and Safaris from the coast or Nairobi. From Nairobi, you’ll take the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. The drive affords fantastic views of the Rift Valley.

By air – fly-in safaris can land at the park’s Naishi airstrip.

Things to do and see

Flamingos

Famous for its millions of fuchsia pink flamingos blanketing the shoreline. The birds are of two varieties – the greater and lesser flamingo. The lesser are the more numerous with their red bills and pink plumage. The greater variety are smaller in numbers with a distinctive black bill.

View-Points

The views of the park, the Rift Valley beyond and the wildlife below are all richly enjoyed from the hilltop vantages of Lion Hill, Out of Africa Lookout or Baboon Cliff. Just watch out for the baboons who are always looking for food scraps.

Makalia Falls

A pretty waterfall at the south end of the park. This is a wonderful spot for picnicking and hiking.

Vegetation

There’s over 550 plant species to be found in the park including yellow acacia woodlands and the largest euphorbia forest in Africa.

Visit Lake Nakuru with Samson Tours and Safaris

For colour, variety, richness of the landscape and accessibility to the wildlife, Lake Nakuru is a special place. When you add in the millions of dazzling flamingos overwhelming the vistas with their incredible displays, the park is a must see on your safari journey.

Join us on safari to this signature reserve. We have safaris departing from Nairobi, Mombasa and other coastal resorts going to Lake Nakuru and other great Kenya Parks.